Species Profile
Winter Creeper (Euonymus fortunei)
Winter creeper is an evergreen vine that creeps across the forest floor and climbs anything in its path. It is one of the most troublesome invasives in Central Ohio woodlands because it stays green and aggressive all year, smothering native groundcovers when everything else goes dormant. You will find it from Columbus to Delaware County, particularly in disturbed forests, along trails, and on the edges of developed land.
Identification
Winter creeper grows in two distinct forms, which can be confusing at first. As a groundcover, it hugs the soil and spreads via stems that root wherever they touch earth. As a climber, it sends out aerial rootlets and grips bark, fabric, and stone, reaching 30 feet or more up trees and walls. You can identify it year-round by its small, glossy, opposite leaves that are typically dark green and leathery. Many plants show distinctive silvery or white veins running through the leaf surface, which is a reliable field mark. In winter, when the native understory is bare, winter creeper remains vibrantly green and visible from a distance.
The stems are slender and woody as they mature, with tiny aerial rootlets visible along climbing growth. Mature plants produce small, pale green flowers in early summer, followed by tiny four-lobed pale pink fruits that are rarely noticed. The evergreen foliage and year-round presence make it easy to spot during winter walks when searching for invasives.
Why It Is a Problem in Central Ohio
Winter creeper creates problems at ground level and in the canopy. On the forest floor, it forms a thick mat that excludes native groundcovers. Sedges, trilliums, and other shade-loving plants that depend on that space cannot establish or survive. This is especially damaging in the Scioto and Olentangy riparian forests, where winter creeper often dominates disturbed banks and floodplain margins where native communities are recovering.
As a climbing vine, winter creeper grows up saplings and mature trees, wrapping stems tightly around smaller trunks. Unlike some vines that merely use trees for support, winter creeper can girdle saplings, cutting off water and nutrient flow. Young hickories, maples, and cherries are vulnerable. The vines add weight and drag on branches, and once established, they are difficult to remove without damaging the tree.
A deeper problem is timing. Native groundcovers are largely deciduous and slow-growing in winter. Winter creeper actively grows during cold months when competitors are dormant. This phenological mismatch gives it a competitive edge that is hard to overcome through passive management. It needs active removal and replacement with winter-hardy natives.
How to Remove Winter Creeper
Removal requires different strategies depending on the growth form. For groundcover patches, pull or cut the aboveground stems as close to the soil as possible. Dig out as much of the shallow root system as you can reach, especially the buried runners. This is labor-intensive but effective for small areas. Rake away the removed material and dispose of it in a bag or trash bin. Do not leave cuttings on site, as they can root if they contact soil again.
For climbing vines on trees or walls, cut the vine at the base, as low as you can go. Remove the aboveground vine carefully, leaving the base. Within a few days to a week, treat the cut stem with an herbicide labeled for woody vines. Cut and paste treatment prevents herbicide from affecting the host tree. Wear gloves, follow label directions carefully, and avoid application in rain or high heat.
Plan for multiple follow-up visits over a full season or two. Winter creeper seedlings and missed root fragments will regenerate. Each time you visit, repeat the pull-and-cut process on new growth. Once you have cleared an area, replant it with native alternatives like Pennsylvania sedge, fragrant sedge, foamflower, or native ferns suited to your light conditions. See our native alternatives guide for species recommendations.
Bagging and removing all plant material is important. Do not compost winter creeper. Dispose of it in the trash or burn pile if allowed in your jurisdiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is winter creeper native to Ohio?
No. Winter creeper is native to East Asia. It was introduced to gardens in the United States as an ornamental groundcover and climbing vine because it is attractive and tough. It escaped cultivation and now spreads across Ohio's forests and disturbed areas, particularly in the Central Ohio region.
Can I just mow it down or cover it with landscape fabric?
Mowing works temporarily on groundcover patches, but winter creeper will regrow from its root system. Landscape fabric can suppress it short-term, but the vine is persistent and will eventually work through or over the fabric. Mechanical removal combined with replanting is more reliable than barriers alone.
What native plants can replace winter creeper?
Pennsylvania sedge and fragrant sedge are excellent low-growing replacements in shade. Foamflower and native mosses also work well in moist areas. For sunnier spots, wild ginger and Solomon's seal are reliable. Visit our native alternatives resource for a full list matched to light, moisture, and site conditions across the Upper Scioto watershed.
How long does winter creeper take to die after I cut and treat it?
Cut vines treated with herbicide typically die within a few weeks, but the root system can persist for months or longer. Expect regrowth from missed root fragments and new seedlings over the next year or two. Persistence and repeat visits are necessary for complete removal.
What to Do Next
If you find winter creeper on your property or while exploring local trails, the best action is to remove it and note its location. For more on the invaders worth knowing in our region, see our full invasive plants guide.